Another Hummingbird in Flight

[billd2]

I'm not sure what kind of hummingbird this one is but I think it is a female Anna's Hummingbird. I enlarged this photo using Element's Essentials and it isn't real sharp but the darn things won't stand still (or should I say fly still?) and focus is difficult. I can't flap my arms fast enough to keep up with them.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1OHPV1VakQY4DV1dAglWfUpwshv72g_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1OHPV1VakQY4DV1dAglWfUpwshv72g)

[smiles]

It's still a better shot that I've shot! Great job!

[jojo99]

Great shot Bill, I really enjoy seeing your pictures and this one is a beauty.
Well done :-)
Jo

[annc]

That is great - I can't even catch stationary birds!

[kevq]

Bill,
another great shot.
Kev.

[Hibe]

Bill,

After seeing your photo as one of this week's Editors Choices, I checked out your gallery and I am impressed with these hummingbird photos. Can you tell me what lens and settings you used to catch these images? I'm relatively new at photography and as I mentioned before, love to capture birds and other wildlife on my course.

Thanks,

Gary

[Inspeqtor]

Bill,

Great capture of a magnificent bird! :)

[billd2]

Gary, glad you like the little birds and wildlife in general. Birds make great photos. My camera is a Nikon D-80 and the lens I used is a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G. I stand on a ladder about 4 feet from a feeder and manually focus on a spot I hope the birds will perform and wait. My settings are as follows: Aperture 2.8, Shutter speed 1/1200 or 1/1000 depending on lighting conditions, and ISO is 200. All settings are in the manual mode. At these settings depth of field is very shallow and a tripod is mandatory. I use the RAW format which allows finer adjustments of the photo when loaded into Elements. Hope this helps.

[John L Gray]

Bill,

A really great image you captured.

Good job.

John

[Hibe]

Bill,

Thanks for the info. I was wondering how you were able to capture the wings in such great focus. I guess the aperature size along with the newer VR II did it. even with that, did you find that you had to push the exposure?

I have the D40 and I'm happy with it, but if I new how much I really like digital photography I would have gone with the D50 or D80. I was waiting for a better deal on the D50 when they came out with a great price on the D40 kit. The one drawback is having to use AF-S type lenses for autofocus. I inheirited my fathers AF 70-210mm F4/5.6 lens and use it quite often, but my buddy's VR 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 is so much nicer. The quality of glass in the newer lenses is so appearant too. He wants to sell it to opt for the larger 2.8 aperature. I will probably by it, but until he comes up with the $1500 to buy the new one, I'm stuck with just borrowing it. I am also looking for a wide angle zoom with a larger aperature as well. I want to invest in good lenses now that I can still use down the road when I opt to go with a better camera ...perhaps a D200.

Thanks again,

Gary

[billd2]

Gary, yes you are right, even with the settings noted I had to use Elements and RAW mode to brighten up the photo. I agree that when purchasing lenses, go with the fastest possible. Of course price is always an obstacle. Enjoy your photography and camera.........Bill